Chapter 55 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 55

With Guan Jia’an messing up the business, Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue decided to stop getting involved altogether and focus on studying instead.

Ji Xiu handed over the location and connections to a brother, took two hundred yuan as a transfer fee, and pooled his savings to a total of 2,400 yuan. He kept the money at home, lived quietly and properly, and waited for the college entrance exam.

In October, an official document was issued from above: the national college entrance examination was restored.

All of Chunxi Village erupted.

Even Li Shiyue—who, thanks to Ji Xiu’s “spoilers,” had long known this day would come—was so excited that her whole body trembled.

“It’s back… the college entrance exam is back…”

She gripped Ji Xiu’s hand, shaking uncontrollably, her eyes shimmering with tears.

People who live in peaceful, prosperous times might never understand what this news meant to the educated youths scattered across the vast land.

Hopeless waiting is always the most torturous thing.

And the restoration of the college entrance exam was like a road illuminating the future.

Through this road, more than a decade of studying and waiting finally gained meaning. Like a lamp in the long night, it split the darkness, giving direction and motivation to lives that had been drifting in a daze.

Seeing her cry with joy, Ji Xiu lost all interest in acting. Sharing her emotions, he sighed softly. “Yes. The college entrance exam is finally back.”

Li Shiyue couldn’t hold it in anymore. She threw her arms around Ji Xiu and burst into loud, cathartic sobs.

Ji Xiu gently patted her back, silently comforting her.

Elsewhere in Chunxi Village, the educated youths who heard the news were just as excited.

Two female educated youths were especially overjoyed. After celebrating with everyone, they avoided the crowd and whispered among themselves.

“I never thought what Shiyue said would really come true.”

“Yeah. I didn’t believe her at first either. But I wanted that day so badly—so even though I doubted it, with Shiyue encouraging me, I still read a bit.”

“Same here. She kept urging me to study, so I read a little. I’m really grateful to Shiyue.”

This was the first year the exam was restored, and the situation was special. To mobilize enthusiasm and absorb as much talent as possible, they didn’t wait until the following June. Instead, the exam was scheduled for just one month later—November.

Only one month. Every single day counted. Even studying a little made a huge difference.

The two were deeply grateful for Li Shiyue’s reminder and chatted happily in low voices.

As for why Li Shiyue had only reminded the two of them and not others—they understood.

With attitudes like those people had, only a saint would bother reminding them.

In any case, whether one had been reminded or not, no one was unhappy upon hearing the exam had been restored.

Except for one person.

Guan Jia’an sat in his room, the words “college entrance exam restored” echoing in his head. He kept his face lowered, his eyes dark.

Lin Ying cradled her slightly protruding belly and peeked in from the doorway.

“What are you looking at?!” Guan Jia’an roared, his eyes bloodshot. “Get out!”

Lin Ying jumped in fright and hurried away.

Seeing that she had really left, the anger he had been suppressing exploded. With a loud crack, he smashed the vase beside him onto the floor.

His actions were nothing but a joke.

To secure a recommendation spot at the Workers’ and Peasants’ Soldier University, he had deliberately approached the plain-looking Lin Ying. He married her—only to offend Captain Lin by reporting Ji Xiu, losing Captain Lin’s recommendation.

Thinking there would be another spot next year, he endured for one more year, forcing himself to act like a good man.

And then—out of nowhere—the exam was restored.

Why?

He had sacrificed so much. He had even taken Lin Ying. Why should he be standing on the same starting line as those useless educated youths?

They did nothing and still got the chance to return to the city.

More ridiculous still: when he said he wanted to take the exam, Captain Lin scolded him and sent him back to his room. Yet those useless people at the educated youth compound were allowed to take the exam and return to the city through it.

All of this was because he had married Lin Ying and become Captain Lin’s son-in-law—giving Captain Lin every right to control him.

No. This wouldn’t do.

He had to separate from Lin Ying. He had to go back.

The thought surfaced in Guan Jia’an’s mind, like a madman grasping his final escape route. He began thinking about how to separate.

He quickly came up with a plan.

If things had reached this point, it was all Lin Ying’s fault—that shameless woman had seduced him, slept with him, and insisted on marriage. Otherwise, things would never have gotten so bad. So she would have to go to Captain Lin herself and voluntarily call off the marriage. Only then might this succeed.

Guan Jia’an calmed down and went out to look for her.

When he couldn’t find her anywhere, he flared up again.

But really, he was the kind of person who loved shifting blame and couldn’t shoulder responsibility. Turning his resentment on Lin Ying this time was hardly surprising.

He never reflected on his own mistakes.

When Ji Xiu beat him, it wasn’t because he tried to be a third party and steal Ji Xiu’s woman—it was because Sun Yue reported him. So he incited the educated youths to quarrel with Sun Yue and gave her the cold shoulder.

When he was about to marry Lin Ying and went to show off to Ji Xiu, only to get beaten, it wasn’t because he was courting death. It was because the other educated youths insisted on dragging him along—it was all their fault. So afterward, he distanced himself from them.

And now, being unable to take the college entrance exam wasn’t because he had ulterior motives and deliberately approached Lin Ying—it was because Lin Ying didn’t stand firm, was too easy to win over, and too proactive. Therefore, she should bear the responsibility.

“Perfectly reasonable.” At least, it looked that way.

Only on the surface.

Captain Lin ran into his daughter Lin Ying in the courtyard, covering her face and crying. His head throbbed painfully.

He didn’t even need to ask to know why. Turning around, he stormed into her room, ran into Guan Jia’an, and punched him square in the face.

“Guan Jia’an! I married my daughter to you—this is how you treat her?!”

Guan Jia’an’s brain, which had just been busy convincing itself, suddenly stopped working altogether.

Captain Lin scolded him harshly, his words falling like a violent storm.

“You bastard! Don’t think my daughter’s good temper makes her easy to bully—I’m not dead yet! You dare raise your voice at her again, touch even a finger, and I’ll make you sleep in the woodshed! Ungrateful little wretch—treat you too well and you start floating, don’t you?!”

Guan Jia’an remained in a blank daze.

Captain Lin cursed him for over ten minutes, spraying spit all over his face, then left with a dark expression, still muttering angrily.

At the corner, Lin Ying touched her belly, a trace of cold amusement curving her lips.

Soon, she suppressed the smile, put on a frightened look, trembled as she cautiously approached Guan Jia’an, and asked softly, “Jia’an, are you okay? Dad’s just too worried about me. Don’t resent him.”

Crushed by Captain Lin’s tirade, Guan Jia’an closed his eyes and said nothing.

Lin Ying lowered her gaze. “Let me help you back to the room to rest.”

Guan Jia’an stirred his eyelids, looked at her, still silent, and let her support him back to the room and onto the bed.

He needed time to calm down.

Lin Ying patiently bent down to take off his shoes, her expression indifferent. When she looked up, it turned into concern again. “Get some good rest.”

Guan Jia’an closed his eyes. She smiled, turned around, and slowly walked out.

At the doorway, Lin Ying glanced back at Guan Jia’an lying in the dim room, disgust and contempt flashing in her eyes.

Should she be grateful that this man had the habit of keeping a diary?

If she hadn’t read it, she would never have known that, in his heart, she was nothing more than a chess piece for his return to the city.

Yes, Lin Ying was a hopeless romantic, willing to give everything for love. But when such a woman turned against someone, she was also the most terrifying.

Guan Jia’an’s future was uncertain, but one thing was clear—it would never be as beautiful as he imagined.

As for everything behind the scenes, Ji Xiu—who had found Guan Jia’an’s diary and deliberately placed it somewhere obvious—expressed only this: Achievements hidden, credit unclaimed. …

The impact of restoring the college entrance exam continued to spread.

The Lin family didn’t trust the ambitious Guan Jia’an to take the exam and strongly opposed it.

But families who resisted weren’t limited to the Lins.

The Ji family, with Li Shiyue as an educated-youth daughter-in-law, was equally worried.

Less than a day after the news spread, two families in a neighboring village were already in conflict—both households where one spouse was an educated youth.

The educated youths had waited for so many years. Their longing for the exam was like moths rushing toward a flame—reckless and desperate.

Even female educated youths who cared deeply about family couldn’t resist the temptation.

The Ji family feared Li Shiyue might abandon their son and granddaughter, insisting on taking the exam and leaving.

They waited a day to see what would happen. When Ji Xiu didn’t come to them, the whole family went to him instead.

Everyone looked deeply worried.

Ji Xiu opened the door and jumped in surprise. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

Huang Taohua glanced inside and asked in a low voice, “Son, has Shiyue been fighting with you?”

Ji Xiu froze for a moment, then burst out laughing when he realized what they were worried about. “Mom, what are you thinking? How could Shiyue fight with me?”

“The exam’s been restored!” Huang Taohua stomped her foot anxiously, exasperated. “If Shiyue gets into college, she’ll definitely divorce you and go back to the city!”

Ji Xiu waved his hand, pulled the door open wider, and gestured for them to come in. “Let’s talk inside.”

Both doors were opened, the view suddenly wide. Li Shiyue, busy in the courtyard, noticed and looked up.

The Ji family smiled awkwardly.

They had wanted to discuss things behind Li Shiyue’s back. Who knew their foolish son would lay everything out in the open? It was unbearably awkward.

With no choice, they entered the courtyard.

Li Shiyue put down what she was holding and greeted them. “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law—what brings you here?”

The Ji family kept forcing dry smiles.

Ji Xiu laughed inwardly and bluntly exposed their concern. “They heard about the exam being restored and are afraid you’ll run off, so they came to check on you.”

Li Shiyue almost laughed too. Pressing her lips together, she explained, “Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law—don’t worry. I won’t run off. Even if I take the exam, I’ll do it together with Ji Xiu.”

“What?!” They didn’t understand.

Ji Xiu shrugged. “Since you’re here, I’ll announce something. This year’s college entrance exam—Shiyue and I will take it together. When the time comes, Yingzi will have to trouble you to look after her.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the Ji family froze, staring at Ji Xiu’s shamelessly confident face with strange expressions.

Ji Xiu. Elementary school graduate. Taking the college entrance exam?

What kind of joke was this?

They wanted to look encouraging—but it was just too absurd to hold back.

Even Huang Taohua, who blindly favored Ji Xiu, didn’t believe him. She spoke earnestly. “Son, don’t mess around. Mom knows you can’t bear to part with Shiyue, but if this blows up, our family will become the village’s laughingstock. Calm down.”

Ji Xiu looked helpless. “I’m not messing around. I’m just going to participate in the exam with Shiyue. The results aren’t even out yet, and you already don’t believe in me.”

Huang Taohua sighed. “If the results come out, it’ll be too late. Tell me—are you going to score three points, or two? What if you come back with a big fat zero?”

Ji Xiu: “…”

Even his sister-in-law stepped forward. “Ji Xiu, calm down. The exam is Shiyue’s chance. We should talk to her properly. If she’s willing to stay, we’ll treat her well. If she wants a divorce and to return to the city, we’ll part peacefully. There’s no need for you to chase after her to the exam site and cause trouble—it’s pointless.”

Ji Xiu’s older brother added sternly, “I heard the exam is very strict. If you cause trouble, you might even get arrested.”

Their father panicked. “Son, we can’t cause trouble.”

The four of them looked as if Ji Xiu were already halfway down a criminal path.

Ji Xiu’s expression stiffened. “…”

Li Shiyue saw this and knew it wasn’t kind—but she truly couldn’t hold it in.

With a pfft, she burst out laughing right in front of everyone.